Wonderful sports day / athletic festival

[Sports Day] Songs for footraces: tracks that make kids want to run [classics & J-pop]

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

The footrace event, the climax of any sports day! It gets everyone fired up—both the kids running and the adults watching.

And to make the race even more exciting, you can’t go without the right BGM.

Here, we’ve put together a selection of recommended songs for footrace events.

From timeless classics you’ve surely heard before to the latest buzzworthy J-pop hits, we’ve curated tracks that people of all generations can enjoy.

Every song is full of sprinting energy and is sure to double the excitement of the competition! Use this as a guide to help bring your sports day to life!

[Sports Day] Songs that go well with footraces: tracks that make kids want to run [Classics & J‑Pop] (81–90)

chantAdo

[Sing] Ado “Simple Dance” — A simple arranged dance you can do at recitals and sports days! The easy version of the “Zombie Dance,” which is super popular at USJ!

chantAdo

A track defined by its energetic beat and Ado’s powerful vocals! Released digitally in September 2023, the song also drew attention through a collaboration with USJ’s Halloween event.

Its exotic vibe, reminiscent of Indian music, is especially captivating.

It won broad support, including spending seven consecutive weeks at No.

1 on the Billboard JAPAN Streaming Songs chart.

The lyrics carry a message of unleashing your talent and moving forward, making it perfect for giving you a push in races like sprints or relays.

Listen to this song, and you’ll feel like running at full speed!

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Crimson Lotus FlowerLiSA

LiSA “Gurenge” -MUSiC CLiP- (Anime “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” Tanjiro Kamado: Unwavering Resolve Arc Opening Theme)

Crimson Lotus FlowerLiSA

This song depicts the courage to face adversity, with a powerful rock sound and a richly projected vocal that represents modern anime.

It captures the indomitable spirit of a protagonist striving to overcome countless hardships and the strong will to protect loved ones, resulting in a striking piece.

LiSA’s vocals brilliantly convey the story’s themes.

Released in April 2019, it was chosen as the opening theme for the TV anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, became a massive hit, and earned numerous accolades, including an appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Its dynamic, high-impact sound is perfect for sports days and athletic festivals, and it also works great as a rousing cheer song everyone can enjoy together.

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Forward-facing scream!Kanjani∞

Forward-Facing Scream! (Short ver.)

Forward-facing scream!Kanjani∞

The bright and energetic songs of Kanjani Eight are perfect for a fun, exciting sports day! Among them, “Maemuki Scream!” released in 2015, is a track that serves as a cheer song for those about to take on a competition.

At sports days, there are not only people who are good at events but also many who find them challenging.

This song gives energy to those who feel it’s not their strong suit, encouraging them to focus on having fun first and keep a positive attitude! How about playing it during the sprint races or the entrance march to lift up the children participating and energize the whole atmosphere?

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A Trumpeter’s HolidayRuroi Andāson

08 Bugler’s Holiday – A Trumpeter’s Holiday

A Trumpeter’s HolidayRuroi Andāson

Composed in 1954 by American musician Leroy Anderson, “Bugler’s Holiday” is a classic staple as background music for sports days and athletic festivals.

Its intricate trumpet passages are distinctive, and listening to it gives you a feeling of being hurried along, as if someone’s giving you a push.

It’s perfect for footraces and relay scenes! If you’re undecided about the BGM, why not give it a try?

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Joyfulikimonogakari

Ikimonogakari 'Joyful' Music Video

Joyfulikimonogakari

When it comes to background music for running races, some of you might be looking for something not only with a sense of speed but also super high-energy.

In that case, I’d like to recommend “Joyful.” It’s a song by Ikimono-gakari that was created as a commercial song for Pocky.

Yoshiki Mizuno, who wrote and composed it, said he crafted it with the idea of making the sound and phrases stick in your head—and that’s exactly how it turned out.

The rhythm is so pleasant that it makes you feel like you can run faster than usual.

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